Last for the manufacture of boots or the like



MarchvZl, 1939. G. LovAGLxo LAST FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS OR THELIKE Filed April 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l rf 'INVENTOR .GIOVANNI`LOVAGLIO ATTORNEY vMarch 21, 1939. G LOVAGUO 2,151,606

-LAST FOR THE MANUFAGTURE OF BOOTS OR THE LIKE Filed April '7, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 2 TTG; 4

INvEN TOR GIOVANNI LOVAGLIO ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 21, 1939 PATENTOFFICE LAST Fon THE MANUFAGTURE oF BooTs on 'rmi LIKE Giovanni Lovaglio,Paris, France Application April 7,1937, Serial No. 135,566 In France May9, 1936 2 Claims.

Wooden lasts of two kinds are used at present for the manufacture ofboots or the like depend ing upon the work to be carried out. Thoseintended for current work comprise a sole in metal, and the othershaving an iron-shed heel are intended for hand work and do not includethis metal sole, thus leaving the wood bare and permitting theintroduction o-f nails or tacks in the course of the fitting work.

Apart from the inconvenience resulting from the use of two kinds oflasts, these lasts present a certain number of drawbacks andimperfections. In particular it is diicult to give them the surface,nish and exact profile which are necessary to obtain the perfectreproduction. 'I'he dimensions and profiles furthermore are altered intime, by the wood warping and thereby destroying the original basicmeasurements. The lasts also which are intended for working with tackssoon become useless owing to the large numbers of holes always made inthe same parts by the tacks or nails during the work.

The present invention has for its object to provide a last whichovercomes these drawbacks. The essential characteristic of the lastaccording to the invention is that it is made of metal and comprisescavities of suitable shape and dimensions having insertions of amaterial such as wood permitting the driving-in of tacks or nails forthe manufacture by hand of boots or like footwear. This last can be usedin a general way for all kinds oi work (black or supple system orGoodyear).

The invention therefore permits the same last to be used for massproduction and for working with nails (hand work). Furthermore, thearrangement of the wood or other suitable material, in the cavities ofthe last, in such manner that the replacement of this material can beeffected, gives the lasts an unlimited life whatever may be the class ofwork executed thereon.

'I'he lasts according to the invention may very easily be made bycasting metal in suitable moulds. There are thus attained lasts havingexactly the dimensions, proportions and lines desired and which do notvary in the course'of use.

There is shown on the annexed drawings by way of example, one embodimentof a last according to the invention.

On the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a last,

Fig. 2 is a View in elevation,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of last,

Fig. 4 is a section on the line A-A of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows in plan a removable plate with metallic margin.

The metal last comprises cavities 2 and 3 of suitable shapes anddimensions, in which there are introduced plugs or insertions 4 and 5 ofcor- .3 responding shapes and dimensions. These plugs may be of wood,leather, or of any composition or material permitting the introductionof the tacks or awls necesary in the work.

These plugs are preferably mounted so as tolo be easily removable andmay, with this object in view, be fixed by means of screws 6 and 1 orthe like. When the plugs are Worn by the piercing of numerous tackpoints these plugs are taken out and replaced. l5

This last may be mounted on a support of any suitable kind and has onits heel a plate 8 covering a cavity 9 made for the purpose oflightening the last.

According to the invention the last may be 20 made by casting and beconstituted by various parts cast separately and then assembled by anysuitable means.

It must be understood that the present invention is not limited to themethod of execution 25 which has been described above by way of examplebut that it can be made in various modications in particular withrespect to the number of the cavities provided in the last, theirarrangement and design as also the nature and 30 the iixing of the plugsprovided in these cavities.

In particular there may be provided other cavities than those which havebeen indicated. For example, as shown in Fig. 2 there may be provided acavity IU in the form of a slot or groove 35 running round the last andcomparatively near the edge thereof. This slot contains like thepreviously mentioned cavities, a suitable material (wood, leather, orcomposition) and can serve in the connecting of the shoe body proper tothe 40 sole.

Instead of the plugs 4 and 5 (Fig. 1) there may be used a plate of wood,leather, cast material, (synthetic resin) applied to the bottom of thelast of metal or other suitable material, rigid in 4.5 shape. Theseplates I5 rest preferably in a groove l2 made in the bottom of the lastl (Figs. 3 and 4) andthey have a contour which corresponds to the lastl. In the cavity 3 of this last are arranged bosses i4 cast with thelast l. 'Ihese 50 bosses serve to support the plate l5 which rests inthe slot or channel I2 and they are bored with a tapped hole to take thescrews 'l for fixing the plate which is furthermore xed by screws 6. Theheel piece 8 covers the rear cavity of the 55 Vtained by screws l1.

last, which cavity is intended to reduce the weight. Y

Fig. 5 shows a plate I5 of wood, orVV the like, the edges of which aresurrounded by a metal part I6 preferably of sheet metal embedded to halfits depth in the edge of the plate and re- These small plates edged withmetal will be utilized for working with the Black machine.

Owing to these improved metal lasts (or lasts of other suitablematerial) made by casting and fitted with plugs or interchangeableplates in wood or other material permitting the penetration of tacks ornails, a great improvement is effected over former lasts in wood whichalter in shape and deteriorate rapidly owing to the numerous holes madeby the nails in the process of making the footwear.

'I'he lasts according to this invention have in particular the followingadvantages:

They permit strictly exact working for all measurements and all shapesowing to their rigid body, obtained by casting with great precision andgreat economy.

The plugs or plates in wood or other suitable material with which theselasts are iitted, are interchangeable and maybe replaced as desiredaccording to the degree of wear and the work. to be carried out.

A single last with plugs or plates of an interchangeable character mayserve indiscriminately for the making of footwear of all kinds, handsewn, welt sewn, sewn by the Black machine or flexible, and for allheights of heels, English, medium height or Louis XV. This system oflasts applies to boots or shoes for Women. men or children.

Thel body of the last will be in metal cast in a mould or in equivalentmaterial obtained by moulding.

The interchangeable plugs or plates will be of wood, leather, castmaterial (synthetic resin or the kind sold under the registeredtrade-mark of Bakelite) and the like, the plates being in certain casesprovided with a bordering of metal plate.

I claim:

1. An improved last for the manufacture of footwear by hand or machinecomprising a metallic last body, said body having a recess formed in itsbottom face, said body also having a channel formed in the bottom facealong the edge of said recess, a non-metallic plate seated within saidchannel and across said recess, bosses formed upon one of the wallsforming said recess for supporting said plate and means detachablyconnecting said plate to said bosses.

2. An improved last for the manufacture of footwear by hand or machinecomprising a metallic last body, said body having a recess formed in itsbottom face, said body also having a channel formed in the bottom facealong the edge ofsaid recess, a plate seated within said channel andacross said recess, ksaid plate being formed with a non-metallic centralportion and a metallic border therearound, bosses formed upon one .ofthe walls forming said recess for supporting said plate and meansdetachably connecting said plate to said bosses. g l l GIOVANNlLOIVAGLIO.v

